I Found Love at Thirty Two

XIII-William

Nagising ako na hindi ko magalaw ang kanan kong kamay. I tried moving hard but I can't. And it is only now that I realized that I am not inside my room but rather, in a hospital at 4 in the morning. Nagulat ako na ang dahilan kung bakit di ko magalaw ang kamay ko ay si Lucy.

Ano nga bang nangyari kagabi? We were just looking for a place to eat tapos andito ako ngayon sa ospital, kasama ang babaeng nagpapahinto ng mundo ko. Bakit naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon dun pa ko inatake ng asthma ko? I was already meaning to ask her about her marriage. If she is annulled or something and I am willing to take the risk and be rejected pero at least I tried di ba? I wanna ask her what's the real score between her and Chef Park. I know he is not just an ordinary chef, he makes Lucy smile in a way that I cant. At isa pa, kagabi naramadaman kong malalim na ang pagkakaibigan nila. Ano pa bang laban ko dun di ba? Lucy even joined him in a contest just to capture the "memory."

"Kaya ang ginawa ko, I took a photo of him habang nasa mismong competition na sya. At dun ko nakita ang kaibahan ng "scripted poses" sa "actual."

Yeah right close sila. That contest was five years ago and yet the way she told me last night made me feel so damn jealous.

I won't spoil this moment though. I will just be happy that she is here with me right now. The scent of her hair sends sensation to my body, enough to make me want to play with every strand of it, pull her up beside me and savor the taste of her lips for the third time. I wonder what would it taste like if I kiss her early morning? 'Here you go again Willliam! Nasaan na yung bagong William na sinasabi mo?'

I tried to brush off the idea especially that she is peacefully sleeping with her head on top of my hand. I slowly moved and tried as much as I can to stand without waking her up pero walang nangyari dahil nakita ko ang mga mata niyang nakatingin na sa akin.

"Thank God you are alive William."

I was caught off guard when she embraced me. Totoo ba talaga tong naririnig ko? Is she really concerned about me? God help me control myself. I don't want to ruin this moment and succumb to my body's wanting of having her in a private room of a hospital.

"You sound like a worried mother."

I made a forced chuckle just to assure her that I am okay and she has nothing to worry about.

"Anak, bakit di mo sinabi sa akin na may hika ka at hinayaan mong dalhin kita sa restaurant na yun?"

She stood up and placed both of her hands on her waist. I was like a child being scolded. Nakakatuwa lang na sumakay siya sa joke ko.

"Mom, I don't want you to get worried and I know you are hungry last night and I thought I can handle it."

And we both laughed. She is so carefree and spontaneous at di ko inakalang kahit na nasa loob kami ng ospital eh magiging ganito ako kasaya.

"Pero seryoso William, kinabahan ako sa yo. Sana kasi sinabi mo na lang talaga na may hika ka para di ka naospital. Alam mo bang hanggang ngayon di pa ko nakakain? Hindi ako makakain dahil nga andito ka! At dahil kasalanan ko ang lahat ng ito, nasa credit card ko na nakacharge yung bill mo."

"Huh? No. I can pay for my own bill Lucy. Sapat na na dinala mo ko dito. Saka masaya naman ako kasi nakasama kita."

"Next time, you take care of yourself. Do not compromise just because you want somebody happy."

Kinuha niya ang bag niya at inayos na ang damit niya. Nataranta ako sa ginawa ni Lucy. Gusto ko siyang ihatid pero sa sitwasyon ko ngayon, paano ko naman yun gagawin?

"Are you leaving?"

"Yep. Mukhang okay ka na rin naman eh. Ang ganda na nga ng smile mo eh. Marami pa akong dapat asikasuhin sa studio. Sabi naman ng doctor baka raw mamayang lunch time pwede ka ng umuwi. Saka raw sabi niya pala, yung inhaler mo, dapat lagi mo lang katabi. Hindi kung saan-saan mo nilalagay. Para raw kapag may biglang asthma attack ka, kakayanin mo."